Hey guys, Loved reading your discussion on the compressed fire logs. I have researched these things entirely and if I could would love to get my hands on these things at a good price. I currently burn a Hearthstone heritage in a 1900 sq ft house with decent insulation R38 in attic, R19 in walls. Mind you house built in 1813. Have electrical resistance, wish the former owner when he tore down the walls to put up sheetrock had placed an electric heat pump.
However, to get to my retort, I am a resident physician and work 90+ hrs/week. When I leave in the morning, always have a coal bed to reload, but by 1pm to 2pm the electric baseboard kicks in until I get home at 9pm. So would love a compressed log that I could load to the gills, damper down, and at least have the burn go until 4pm to 5pm. Remember electric is expensive. Problem is that none of the dealers in my area carry these logs. I live in putnam/westchester NY. The nearest dealerthat I can get Bio-bricks is one hour away. Home Cheapo carries the enviro-log, which is 11,000 btus/lb. However, they will not give a discount in buying a 2ton pallet of these things. so, 2tons (equiv to a cord of white oak) is 530.00. Wood dealers in my area, offer "mixed hardwoods" for 200.00/cord. However, there is always a decent amt of softwood mixed in, and most of it never ready to burn unless bought in spring. Plus could never load my stove enough to get a 12hr burn. So, I am dammed either way. Could throw nut coal (anthracite) on in the mornin, but after a few yrs of doing that my stove and chimmney would be shot. So hopefully, as time goes on, the dealers in the area, one of the dealers in the area will start stocking these logs for people like me who could responsibly burn them without over-firing.